CHICAGO - Junior guard Marco Samimy (Chicago, Ill./CICS-Northtown Academy) scored a combined 28 points over two games as the Saint Xavier University men's basketball team split its outings in the two-day SXU Classic this weekend at the Shannon Center in Chicago. The Cougars (9-2 overall) lost their first game to Indiana Wesleyan University (Ind.), 74-70; but bounced back on Saturday with a convincing 89-62 victory over East-West University (Ill.). Freshman forward Scott Taloff (Bedford Park, Ill./St. Laurence) also had a nice weekend for SXU scoring 27 points over the two-game stretch.

Indiana Wesleyan jumped out to an early 11-2 lead in the opening four minutes of the first half and controlled the entire half leading by as many as 11 points. Trailing 37-29 at the half, the Cougars rallied in the second half and closed to within three points, 50-47, on a three-pointer by Samimy with 11:30 to play in regulation. IWU would push its lead back into double figures later in the frame, but SXU would come storming back and tie the game, 68-68, on a trey by junior guard Stan Mayfield (Grayson, Ga./McKendree University/Shiloh) with 2:44 to play. However, Saint Xavier would miss big shots down the stretch and Indiana Wesleyan would convert its free throws to secure the victory. Taloff led SXU with 13 points off the bench, while Samimy tacked on 12 more in the loss.

The Cougars would not let the Phantoms get that close jumping out to a 48-22 lead in first-half action to cruise to the big win on Saturday. Samimy led the way with 16 points, while Taloff chipped in 14 towards the winning effort. Mayfield came off the bench to post 14 points as well for SXU. Senior guard Julian Scott (Country Club Hills, Ill./Hillcrest) had a solid all-around game finishing with 11 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. The Cougars shot an impressive 62 percent (36-for-58) from the field in the game. Saint Xavier (9-2 overall/2-0 CCAC) heads to Deerfield, Ill., on Tuesday, December 8, to take on Trinity International University (Ill.). The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off.